By: Messiah Athletic Communications

EASTLAKE, OHIO – On Saturday evening, the Messiah University baseball team used a five-run fifth inning to defeat No. 4 Endicott College Gulls, 9-5 to advance in the winner's bracket of DIII Baseball College World Series. The Gulls started the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Falcons scored a run in the top of the third on an error by the Gulls' short stop with the bases loaded, but the Gulls scored two again in the bottom of the third to take a 4-1 lead. The Falcons then took their first lead of the game with five runs in the top of the fifth to grab a 6-4 lead. Evan Wagaman hit a solo home run for the Falcons and Messiah scored four more runs in the inning with two outs. The Falcons added three more runs in the top of the ninth on a three-RBI double from Jarrett Gordon to extend the Falcons lead to 9-4 headed into the bottom of the ninth. The Gulls scored one run and had runners on first and third with one out, but Noah Barrall struck out the final two batters of the game to give the Falcons the 9-5 win. Evan Wagaman led the Falcons with three hits, including a solo home run, and two RBIs. David Martinez tallied three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Jarrett Gordon totaled two hits and three RBIs. Isaiah Parido, Drew Hurst, and Dustin Isanogle each added two hits. Christian Foltz earnd the win on the mound throwing five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Trey Harper threw 3.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Noah Barrall earned the save with two strikeouts.
 
Up next, the Falcons play the winner of No. 9 Kean and No. 4 Endicott on Monday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. With a win the Falcons will clinch a spot in the Division III World Series Championship Series that starts on Wednesday, June 4.
 
DIII College World Series: Winner's Bracket: Messiah 9, No. 4 Endicott 5
The Gulls got the scoring started into the bottom of the first on a two-RBI single to give the Gulls a 2-0 lead.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Falcons looked to get on the board in the top of the third. Dustin Isanogle led off the inning with a walk and then Isaiah Parido hit a single through the right side to put runners on first and second with no outs. After a pop out, Drew Hurst singled to load the bases for the Falcons with one out. Evan Wagaman then hit a ground ball to short, but the Gulls' short stop bobbled the ball, and the Falcons scored their first run of the game to reduce the Endicott lead to 2-1 headed to the bottom of the third.
 
The Gulls though answered back in the bottom of the third with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to extend the Gulls lead to 4-1.
 
After a scoreless fourth inning from Christian Foltz on the mound, the Falcons looked to reduce their three-run deficit in the top of the fifth. After a strikeout to start the inning, Evan Wagaman ripped an opposite field home run to cut the Gulls' lead to two. After a flyout, the Falcons looked to get a two-out rally started. Luke Ott flared a ball to left field, but it dropped between the Gulls' short stop and left fielder for a double. Nick Moyer then drilled an RBI single past a diving a diving Gulls' third basemen to reduce the Endicott lead to one. After Moyer stole third, David Martinez hit an RBI single to right to tie the game at four. Dustin Isanogle then looked to catch the Gulls' defense by surprise with a bunt attempt for a hit. The Gulls' pitcher fielded the ball cleanly but threw the ball away and the Falcons got runners on second and third. Isaiah Parido then hit a two-RBI double to give the Falcons the 6-4 lead.
 
After giving up four runs in the first three innings, Christian Foltz kept battling on the mound for the Falcons, pitching scoreless innings in the fourth and the fifth to keep the Falcons in the game. Foltz finished his start with five innings, four runs allowed on five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts.
 
Both teams were held scoreless in the next three innings, with Trey Harper throwing three straight scoreless innings for the Falcons.
 
With only a two-run lead, the Falcons looked for some crucial insurance runs in the top of the ninth. After two quick outs, David Martinez kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. Dustin Isanogle singled and then Isaiah Parido reached on a hit by pitch to load the bases for Jarrett Gordon. After falling behind, 0-1 Gordon ripped a bases clearing double to right center to extend the Falcons lead to 9-4 headed to the bottom of the ninth.  
 
The Gulls looked to try to mount a comeback in the bottom of the ninth though. After an RBI single, the Gulls had runners on first and third with one out. Noah Barrall came into the game and struck out the final two Endicott batters to give the Falcons the 9-5 win.
 
Stats
Evan Wagaman led the Falcons with three hits, including a solo home run, and two RBIs. David Martinez tallied three hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Jarrett Gordon totaled two hits and three RBIs. Isaiah Parido, Drew Hurst, and Dustin Isanogle each added two hits. The Falcons bats have started the College World Series on fire with 33 hits in the first two games.  Christian Foltz earnd the win on the mound throwing five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Trey Harper threw 3.1 innings, allowing one run on two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Noah Barrall earned the save with two strikeouts.
 
Next
The Falcons play the winner of No. 9 Kean and No. 4 Endicott on Monday, June 2 at 10:00 a.m. With a win the Falcons will clinch a spot in the Division III World Series Championship Series that starts on Wednesday, June 4.